Within the last two years, the number of out of state and international admissions in the U.C. System has risen by over 60%. As a high school counselor in Southern California, I have seen a number of U.C. eligible students not accepted into the U.C.'s while less qualified out of state and, especially, international students have been admitted.

I am about to turn 59 and have been out of school for over 20 years; yet, during that time, my student loan debt has nearly DOUBLED, from $56,000 to over $100,000. I have made both voluntary and involuntary payments over the course of two decades. I lost my job two years ago, and have only a very low-paying, part-time job. I have no assets. There are particular jobs I can't even apply for because of my student loan debt. A bankruptcy "reform" act passed by Congress in 1998 removed any realistic possibility of getting this loan discharged or forgiven via federal bankruptcy courts. Am I to have my Social Security checks garnished as well? Student loan debts existing 14 or more years after graduation should be forgiven.

By signing this petition you may help to end the unnecessary use of TaskStream on UNK's campus. The fact that the students are forced to pay a fee for this "service" is absurd, especially when it does not help the student body in any way, shape, or form.

Head Start is a valuable early childhood educational tool. Funding is in jeopardy for this program. My son attended Head Start for 18 months. I believe it was instrumental in positive outcomes in his education from the first grade to the completion of his MBA in Hospital Administration.

Petition Background Poor and at risk children have been cut out of the budget and denied necessary school prep such as learning to read which would help them be successful. Success at the schoolhouse door means success in the future and breaking the cycle of poverty and having a job, contributing to society and paying taxes. A Democrat and Republican thing to do. As social workers we have seen the benefits of Head Start for children, exciting them about learning and giving them important tools to help them excel in school even though they are poor. In the long run Head Start can make the difference between the schoolhouse or the more expensive justice system.

If 100,000 people sign the petition DIRECTLY ON THE WHITE HOUSE WEBSITE at http://wh.gov/JNiU, they MUST respond. Sign this petition through Moveon.org as well so as many people as possible see it (and the president gets another petition).

Starting September 1st let's all stop paying our student loans unless we get better interest rates and terms on our loans. We're not powerless against the loan companies if we all act together. They concede to our will, or they don't get our money any longer.

How would you like it if there was no art, music, counselors, after school programs, sports, classroom aides, librarians, school psychologists, school secretaries, and nurses? Well that will happen if we don't take a stand against the School District of Philadelphia. The school district's budget for the 2013-14 school year calls for huge cuts to school staff, activities, programs, and services. This petition will help restore the Philadelphia School Budget.

I was out of work and diagnosed with cancer. My student loan interest piled up and up. My spouse has been out of work for more than 10 years. The interest just piles up and up. Now we can't even make a dent in the principal or the interest. The so-called "pay as you earn" programs don't work because we are told we don't qualify for them. We can't get the lower interest rates Sen. Warren proposes because the loans are too old. We're trapped, and we're not alone.

The Philadelphia School district wants to eliminate the Instrumental Music program. This elimination will affect many students. Philadelphia Schools have had a long standing tradition of excellence in music programs at the elementary, junior high and high school level. Many famous musicians probably started out playing an instrument in their school. If the school band, orchestra, and choir students keep working very hard, they could become a very skilled musician. Many of our former students could become or are musicians in major orchestras and college professors of music. This would’ve never happened if they hadn’t taken instrumental music classes when they were young. Taking away these programs for our children is unfair and denies them the same opportunities that wealthier school districts can afford. Please restore the Instrumental Music Program in the School District of Philadelphia.

The Ann Arbor Public School District's Board of Education is forced to make $8.76 million dollars in cuts to its annual budget. One cut under serious consideration is eliminating all high school bus service. Many students live very far from their "home" high schools- in some cases more than an hour's walk. While this affects all students, the impact for students from low-income families will be disproportionate. Getting all students to school safely and efficiently should be a priority. If students don't attend school, they cannot graduate. The future for high school drop-outs is a bleak one- and ultimately we all will pay a heavy price.

How many children's lives would be saved/protected if more parents were EDUCATED about the stages of development? Make child/human development courses MANDATORY for ALL parents/expecting parents who receive government assistance, as well as those who have private insurance in order to have medical coverage for the pregnancy and/or child(ren). Insurance providers would be responsible for the expense of the course. Many children's lives and livelihoods would be spared. There would be fewer children with disabilities, in special education classes, in counseling, living in fear. The cycle of abuse would be broken. The requirement would also save money. By reducing the number of physical abuse cases, the costs associated with them would also go down: CPS cases and EVERYTHING associated with them; ASTRONOMICAL medical expenses, public defenders, court costs, foster care, etc. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.